After ten years of awarding FlubŐs to the best
Flubbers in Flubberville, U.S.A., I have decided to discontinue this column in
favor of a new one. Baby Babble Boomer will appear on the 2nd and 4th
Thursday of each month, from August until I run out of things to talk about.
The new column will chronicle the era of the boomers, those of us born between
1946-1960.

So hereŐs to you Flubbers out there. I hope you have
enjoyed the awards you have received, and will continue to cherish them for
years to come. It was a pleasure recognizing you as one of the best in the
business of Flubbing.

Speaking of FlubŐs. It just wouldnŐt seem right if I
didnŐt Flub Bush one last time. He has been by far the biggest recipient of the
FlubŐs since their inception. This guy is a Master Flubber. During his recent
trip to Prague, Bush referred to himself as a ŇdissidentÓ. He was suggesting
that he,, like President Mabarak in Egypt, were dissidents in their fight to
end tyranny. I guess I for once canŐt argue with Bush, he does appear to be a
dissident. I would use the word degenerate, but still, he is a person who does
not follow established protocol or policy. He pretty much makes those things up
as he goes. As far as fighting tyranny, I see Bush more as the master of it
rather than the conqueror of it.If itŐs cruel and arbitrary power you want, he seems to be your man. He
also recently contradicted himself and is now saying Iraq is a lot like
Vietnam. He claims there will be mass killings and destruction and bloodshed if
we leave prematurely, as he apparently thinks we did in Vietnam. I wonder what
the hell he thinks is happening now? So hereŐs to you, Mr. Bush. Rub-A-Dub-Dub,
how about another Flub?

The University of Colorado took a shot at the last
Flub. The University fired Professor Ward Churchill for suggesting that the
early settlers gave smallpox infected blankets to the Native Americans. ThereŐs
a farfetched idea. Being one of AmericaŐs greatest neoconservative
institutions, they donŐt like such talk about their heroes. I havenŐt favored
Colorado for quite some time. I favor them less now. For the Board of Regents
neoconservative cleansing of the university, this Flubs for you.

The last Flub ever is going to the Galesburg City
Administration and the City Manager form of government. Neither seem to work.
The level of mediocrity and overwhelming desire to maintain the status quo has
been evident in GalesburgŐs city hall leadership for the last 50 years. Hiring
a city manager to run a city was early-on thought to be a good idea. The theory
was to get a professional who would not be influenced by politics. Good theory,
bad result. Politics, with its many downfalls, is a much more dynamic and
accountable way to run a city. While a full-time mayor can certainly run amuck
with power and greed, at least he or she is accountable to the public. A city
manager is not. We have seen some terrible city managers come to Galesburg and
make a career out of it. This is indicative of the dilemma inherent in the
belief that a degree is more relevant to running a city than the tension and
dynamics of public office and elected officials having to maintain at least
some level of satisfaction with the public. I will always pick the later, if
for no other reason than to enjoy the entertainment value. So, basically, the
City of Galesburg gets the last Flub. After all, we deserve it. So
congratulations to all of us.